Jahnavi Rao
2026-2027 Obama Foundation USA Leader
President and Founder, New Voters
Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Jahnavi Rao is the founder and president of New Voters, a national nonprofit equipping high school students to lead nonpartisan voter registration drives and build lifelong habits of civic participation. What began as a high school club she started at 16 has grown into a national nonprofit that has conducted 1000 voter registration drives, expanded its base from 25 to 80 members, and trained tens of thousands of high school students across 500 high schools in 42 states in foundational research skills through a peer-to-peer model, creating civic infrastructure that extends beyond any single election cycle.
Meet the 2026-2027 United States Leaders
More about the Leaders Program
Leaders
For emerging leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good.
Learn More
- The Center
- Building the Center
- Watch
- Barack Obama